Patient handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

PATIENT HANDLING APPARATUS INCLUDING TWO FRAMESUPPORTED, RECTANGULAR PANELS THAT MAY OCCUPY EITHER VERTICAL OR HORIZONTAL POSITIONS, WITH THE FRAME BEING REMOVABLY SUPPORTED IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION ON TWO CANTILEVER ARMS FORMING A PART OF TE MOVABLE PORTION OF THE APPARATUS. THE FRAME MAY BE LOWERED TO ENCIRCLE A BED-SUPPORTED PATIENT WHEN THE PANELS ARE VERTICALLY POSITIONED, AFTER WHICH THE PANELS A RE SEQUENTIALLY LOWERED TO HORIZONTAL POSITIONS TO PERMIT THE PATIENT TO BE DISPOSED THEREON BY A RELATIVELY LITTLE ROLLING MOVEMENT. THE FRAME, PANELS, AND SUPPORTED PATIENT MAY THEN BE MOVED TO A PREDETERMINED LOCATION, SUCH AS OVER AN OPERATING TABLE, X-RAY TABLE, BED, OR THE LIIWE. THE FRAME, PANELS, AND SUPPORTED PATIENT MAY REST ON AN OPERATING OR X-RAY TABLE, AND THEREAFTER THE MOVZBLE PORTION OF THE APPARATUS SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME, IF DESIRED. AFTER THE PATIENT HAS RECEIVED THE NECESSARY MEDICAL TREATMENT, THE CANTILEVER ARMS MAY BE CAUSED TO ENGGE THE FRAME TO PERMIT THE PATIENT TO RETURN TO A HOSPITAL BED, WITH THE PATIENT BEING SEPARATED FROM THE SUPPORTING PANELS AND POSITIONED ON THE BED REVERSING THE ABOVE- DESCRIBED OPERATION.

Feb. 23, 1971 H A. DANIELSON 3,564,625

1 PATIENT HANDLING APPARATUS Filed June 24, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

I 159 24?! 6'. DAN/5460M V" p Arrow/us) il d Ju ne i Feb 23,1971 H.A.DANIEL$ON 3,564,625

- -v imwmu'r' HANDLING APPARATUS v 3 'Sh ets- Sh eet t 2 I INVENTOR.

Feb. 23, 1971 A A. DANIELSO'N 3,564,625

PATIENT HANDLING APPARATUS Filed June 24, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. H4192 A fl /v/aso/v firm en/a' United States Patent O 3,564,625 PATIENT HANDLING APPARATUS Harry A. Danielson, 5844 N. 2nd Ave., Phoenix, Ariz. 85013 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 614,382, Jan. 16, 1967, now Patent No. 3,451,070, which is a Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 402,397, Oct. 8, 1964, now Patent No. 3,298,042, dated Jan. 17, 1967. This application June 24, 1969, Ser. No. 835,968

Int. Cl. A61g 7/10; 7/08 US. Cl. -81 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Patient handling apparatus including two framesupported, rectangular panels that may occupy either vertical or horizontal positions, with the frame being removably supported in a horizontal position on two cantilever arms forming a part of the movable portion of the apparatus. The frame may be lowered to encircle a bed-supported patient when the panels are vertically positioned, after which the panels are sequentially lowered to horizontal positions to permit the patient to be disposed thereon by a relatively little rolling movement.

The frame, panels, and supported patient may then be moved to a predetermined location, such as over an operating table, X-ray table, bed, or the liwe. The frame, panels, and supported patient may rest on an operating or X-ray table, and thereafter the movable portion of the apparatus separated from the frame, if desired. After the patient has received the necessary medical treatment, the cantilever arms may be caused to engge the frame to permit the patient to return to a hospital bed, with the patient being separated from the supporting panels and positioned on the bed by reversing the above-described operation.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a continuation-in-part of an application entitled Patient Transporting and Lifting Device, filed by the applicant on Jan. 16, 1967, under Ser. No. 614,382, which issued as Patent No. 3,451,070 on June 24, 1969. Said application, Ser. No. 614,382 is in turn a continuation-in-part application of an application entitled Patient Handling Device filed by applicant on Oct. 8, 1964, under Ser. No. 402,397, which issued as Patent No. 3,298,042 on Jan. 17, 1967.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention A movable patient handling apparatus that permits a patient to be raised while in a prone position from a hospital bed, transported to a desired location where he may receive medical attention, and thereafter returned to the bed, all with a minimum of movement on the part of the patient, which is of the greatest advantage when the patient is suffering from a spinal injury.

Description of the prior art In the past, no equipment has been available suitable for use in the handling and movement of patients suffering from spinal injuries, particularly when movement of the patient must be held to a minimum. The present invention is particularly adapted to raise, lower, and transport such patients, and substantially eliminates the operational disadvantages of prior equipment which has been used to date for such purposes.

A major object of the present invention is to provide a patient handling apparatus that includes a forklift type ice vehicle that removably supports a frame in a horizontal position, with the frame in turn supporting two rectangular panels, which frame and panels are capable of being disposed in an encircling position about a bed-supported patient to permit the patient to be moved onto the panels. Thereafter, the frame, panels and supported patient may be moved to a position over an operating table, X-ray table, bed, or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a patient handling apparatus that is particularly adapted for the movement of patients suffering from spinal disabilities from a bed to a predetermined location, with the patient being subjected to a minimum of physical movement during such transportation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vehiclesupported rectangular frame on which two patient-supporting panels are movably mounted, which panels may be vertically disposed prior to placement of a patient thereon, as well as after a patient has been removed therefrom.

A further object of the present invention is to supply a patient handling apparatus in which the frame, panels, and supported patient may be disengaged from the movable portion of the apparatus, and in such removed position, rest on an operating table, X-ray table, or the like. After the patient has received the necessary medical treatment, the frame may be re-engaged by the movable portion of the apparatus to return the patient to a hospital bed, all with a minimum of physical movement on the part of the patient.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a patient handling apparatus in which the patient supporting portion thereof may be separated from the movable portion of the apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention include a movable lift apparatus somewhat similar to a forklift that is adapted to removably engage parallel, tubular end pieces of a rectangular frame. The frame has two elongate, rectangular patientsupporting panels movably mounted within the confines thereof, which panels are capable of occupying either vertical or horizontal positions. In use, the panels are first vertically positioned when the frame is lowered to encircle a patient resting on a bed, and thereafter these panels are sequentially disposed in horizontal positions to support the patient thereon. The apparatus is poweroperated insofar as raising and lowering the frame, panels and supported patient is concerned, and substantially eliminate the hazard of personl injury to a nurse or attendants, particularly in the handling of a heavy patient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus, with the patient-supporting panels horizontally disposed;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus showing said panels intermediately disposed between horizontal and vertical positions;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus showing said patient-supporting panels when substantially vertically disposed in lateral spaced relationship;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus after removal of the panels therefrom;

FIG. 5 i a top plan view of the apparatus with the resilient portions of the panels removed therefrom;

FIG. 6 is a transverse, cross-sectional view of the apparatus, taken on the lines 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged transverse, cross-sectional view of one of the panel showing the manner by which the panel is pivotally supported from the frame whereby it may be moved to either a horizontal or vertical position;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the end pieces of the frame, showing the pivotal supports for said panels;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the end pieces-showing a second pivotal support for one of said panels;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, longitudinal cross-sectional view of an end portion of the apparatus, taken on the line 10--10 of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, longitudinal cross-sectional view of the apparatus, taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, longitudinal cross-sectional view of the apparatus, taken on the line 1212 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the panel-supporting frame is removably held in a horizontal position by two cantilever arms that are supported by a movable part of the apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The patient handling apparatus A, as may best be seen in FIGS. 13 and 13, includes a forklift type vehicle B provided with a base C supported on casters D. A conventional hydraulic jack assembly E extends upwardly from substantially the center portion of the base C, which assembly includes a vertically movable ram 10. Movement of the ram is controlled by reciprocal movement of a member 12 in the conventional manner.

A horizontal support member F is aflixed at substantially the center thereof on the upper end of the ram 10, as may best be seen in FIG. 2. Two parallel, longitudinally spaced arms G, illustrated in FIG. 13, extend forwardly from the support member F, which arms are preferably of rectangular, transverse cross section.

Two tubular guides H (FIG. I) extend upwardly from the base B on opposite sides of the hydraulic jack assembly E, and are slidably engaged by rod assemblies I that project downwardly from the support member F. The guides H and rods J cooperatively prevent the support member F from rotating relative to the base C. Base C may be of various shapes, but is preferably formed of tubular U-shaped members including legs 14 y/hich are connected on aligned ends with a tubular member 16 that 'is connected to the hydraulic jack E and guides H.

By reciprocation of the member 12, the support member F and arms G projecting forwardly therefrom may be raised or lowered to a desired elevation. The combination of elements just described defines a forklift type of movable vehicle.

A rigid, rectangular frame K is provided, as may best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 13, that includes two tubular end pieces 18, between which two side pieces 20 extend. Openings 18a are formed in first ends of end pieces 18, through which the arms G may be removably inserted into the end pieces to removably support frame K in a horizontal position.

The frame K is of greater length and width than the largest patient (not shown) to be moved by the patient handling apparatus A. Two elongate rectangular patientsupporting panels L are situated within the confines of frame K and substantially fill the same. The patientsupporting panels L may be disposed in horizontal positions (FIG. 1), whereby a patient (not shown) may be supported thereon, or the panels may be vertically disposed, as illustrated in FIG. 3, to permit the frame K and panels L to be lowered into an encircling position about a bed-supported patient.

Each of the patient-supporting panels L includes a first, outwardly disposed rigid side piece 22 of generally Z-shaped transverse cross section. Each side piece 22, as shown in FIG. 6, includes a vertically extending web 24, from the ends of which a first flange 26 and second flange 28 project in opposite directions. An intermediate flange 30 also extends from web 24 in the same direction as first flange 30 also extends from web 24 in the same direction as first flange 26.

Each of the side pieces 22 is rigidly secured to two end pieces, which as may best be seen in FIG. 10, includes a web 34 and first and intermediate flanges 36 and 38, respectively, extending therefrom. Flanges 36 and 38 lie in the same plane as the first and intermediate flanges 26 and 30 of side piece 22, and are rigidly secured thereto.

'Each panel L includes a rigid core 40 of wood or like material, with one side portion and the end portions thereof being disposed between the first and intermediate. flanges 26 and 30 of side piece 22 and the first and intermediate flanges 36 and 38 of end pieces 32, as shown in FIGS. 6, 10, 11, and 12. A number of screws 42 extend through openings not shown in intermediate flanges 30 and 3 8 to engage the wood core 40 associated therewith. The adjacently disposed, inwardly extending surfaces 44 of wood cores 40 are tapered, as best seen in FIG. 6. Each core 40 supports a first layer 46 of a cellular material such as styrafoam, or the like, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 10. At least a portion of each first layer 46 is substantially flush with the upper surface of second flange 28 (FIG. 6). A second layer 48 of rubber, or like resilient material, is supported on the upper surface of each first layer 4 6 and the second flange 28 most adjacent thereto.

A sheet 50 of pliable material extends over the second layer 48 of each panel L, which is lapped under the flange 28 and core 40, and secured thereto by screws 52, or other suitable fastening means. When horizontally disposed (FIG. 6), the panels L provide a firm, but somewhat resilient support on which a patient (not shown) may rest in a prone position.

Two blocks 54 are afiixed to the interior surfaces of each of the end pieces .32 adjacent the side pieces 22. One of the blocks 54 is shown in FIGS. 9 and 12, each of which removably supports a pin 56. Each pin 56 extends through an opening 60 formed in one of the webs 34, as illustrated in FIG. 12. An enlarged head 62 On each pin 56 prevents inadvertent disengagement of the pin from web 34. The blocks 54 are of such size that a space 64 is defined between them and the webs 34 (FIG. 12).

Each of the pins 56 pivotally supports a. first end of an arm 66. A stub shaft 68 projects from the second end of each arm 66 that extends into a journal 70 formed at an intermediate position on one of the Webs 34, as shown in FIG. 11. Lugs '68 extend downwardly from adjacent end portions of panels L (FIG. 7), and openings 70 are formed in these lugs, the purpose of which will later be explained.

Each end piece 18 is provided with two tracks 72 of generally C-shaped transverse cross section secured to the inner surface thereof. The two tracks 72 on each end piece extend from the blocks 54 to positions 74, best seen in FIG. 8. The positions 74 are separated by a substantial transverse space 76. Each track 72 includes an upper flange 7:8 and lower flange 78 and lower flange 80, as best illustrated in FIG. 10.

The openings 70 in the lugs 68 are each removably engaged by a pin 82, and each pin extends from a carriage M, as may best be seen in FIGS. 6, 8, and 10. Each carriage M includes a plate 84 from which the pin 82 projects. Two spaced stub shafts 86 are secured to each plate 84, and which rotatably support rollers 88 disposed.

within the confines of one of the rails 72, resting on the upper surface of the lower flange thereof (FIG. 10).

A tab 90 projects from the lower portion of each plate 84 towards the end piece 18 most adjacent thereto. Aligned openings 92 are formed in tabs 90. Each pair of carriages M associated with one of the end pieces 18 has openings 92 formed therein which slidably engage a rod 94 (FIG. 8). The ends of the rods 94 engage recesses 96 formed in blocks 54, and are locked therein by screws 98, as may be seen in FIG. 12. Compressed helical springs *100 encircle rods 94, which springs abut against the blocks 54 and tabs 90 in the'manner shown in FIG. 7. The springs 100 at all times tend to move each pair of carriages M towards one another, and when the carriages move towards one another they tend to move the panels L from the vertical position shown in FIG. 3 to the horizontal position illustrated in FIG. 1.

The space 76 between the ends of each pair of. tracks 72 (FIG. 6) is confined due to an elongate guard 102 that is removably secured to the upper flanges 72 by screws 204. Elongate resilient strips 106 are secured to the upper surfaces of side pieces 20, as shown in FIG. 6 to cushion the shock of the flanges 28 upon contact thereof with the side pieces, due to the action of the springs 100.

In use, operation of the invention is relatively simple. The apparatus A is manually moved to a position alongside a bed on which a patient rests in a prone position. The frame K is then located over the patient, with the panels L in the substantially vertical positions shown in FIG. 3. The frame K and panels L are thereafter lowered until the frame K rests on the bed (not shown). One of the panels L is then moved into a horizontal position whereby the patient may be rolled on his side thereon. The other panel is then lowered into a horizontal position and the patient rolled back to his initial prone position where he is resting on the upper surfaces of both panels L.

The frame K, panels L, and the supported patient (not shown) may then be raised by means of the hydraulic jack E to an elevation where the frame clears the bed. The patient may thereafter be transported on the apparatus A to a desired location such as an operating table, X-ray table, or the like. After such destination is reached, the frame K, panels L, and the supported patient may be separated as a unit from the arms G, if desired. After the patient has received the necessary medical attention, the apparatus is used to return him to his bed by reversing the above described procedure.

I claim:

1. In a patient transporting and lifting device that includes a movably supported base, a hydraulic jack as sembly mounted in an upwardly extending position on said base, which assembly includes a vertically movable ram, an elongate horizontal rigid member mounted at substantially its mid-point on the upper end of said ram, guide means for preventing said member and ram from rotating relative to said base, a rectangular frame defined by pairs of end pieces and side pieces, means for rigidly supporting said frame in a horizontal position from said member, with one of said side pieces being parallel and disposed adjacent thereto, the improvement of a patient support that is substantially rigid and particularly adapted for supporting patients suffering from spinal injuries, comprising:

(a) two rectangular patient-supporting panels disposed within the confines of said frame and of such size as to substantially fill the interior thereof when said panels are horiztntally disposed, and with the ends of said panels being adjacently positioned relative to said end pieces;

(b) two pairs of pivotally movable arms having first and second ends, which pairs of arms when horizonally disposed are in transverse alignment relative to said frame, located adjacent the interior surfaces of said end pieces thereof;

(c) first means for pivotally supporting said first ends of said arms from said frame;

((1) second means for pivotally converting said second ends of said arms to said ends of said panels;

(e) transverse elongate guide means mounted on the interior surfaces of said end pieces;

(f) third means longitudinally movable in said guide means; and

(g) fourth means pivotally connecting said ends of said panels to said third means to permit vertical positioning of said panels in laterally spaced relationship, whereupon said frame and panels may be lowered into an encircling position about a bed-supported patient, With said panels thereafter being sequentially movable into horizontal positions whereby said patient by rolling motions may be supported on said panels for transportation thereon to a desired location.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said first means further includes:

(h) two pairs of blocks secured to the interior surfaces of said end pieces adjacent said side pieces of said frame; and

(i) a plurality of pins that pivotally connect said first ends of said arms to said blocks.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said panels further includes:

(j) a rigid core;

(k) at least one layer of resilient material overlying said core;

(1) two rigid end members secured to said core; and

(m) a pliable sheet extending over said core and layer, which sheet is secured to the sides and ends of said panel.

:4. A device as defined in claim 3 wherein said second means comprise a plurality of pins that extend outwardly from said arms to pivotally engage openings formed in said end members.

5. A device as defined in claim .3 wherein said guide means comprise two pairs of rigid members of generally C-shaped transverse cross section that are transversely aligned and rigidly secured to said end pieces of said frame, with the first ends of the members of each of said pairs being spaced a substantial distance from one another.

6. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said third means comprise a plurality of carriages that movably engage said members.

7. A device as defined in claim 6 wherein said fourth means further includes:

(11) a plurality of lugs secured to said ends of said panels; and

(o) a plurality of pins that pivotally connect said lugs to said carriages.

8. A device as defined in claim 7 which further includes:

(p) two rods, with each of said rods extending between said blocks in one of said pairs thereof; and

(q) two pairs of compressed helical springs, each of which encircles one of said rods, with the ends of each said springs being in abutting contact with one of said carriages and one of said blocks, which springs at all times tend to maintain said panels in horizontal positions.

9. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said carriages is shorter in length than that of said space between said first ends of said members to permit separation of said panels from said frame when said arms are disconnected from said frame. 7

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,042,936 7/1962 Patteron 5-83 3,099,020 7/1963 Garfield et al 581 3,210,778 10/1965 Robinson S61 3,238,539 3/1966 Koch 5-61 3,451,070 6/1969 Danielson 5-86X CASMIR A. NUMBERG, Primary Examiner US. Cl. XJR. 5-61, 86 

